Souness wants Shearer to play on

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness will try to talk Alan Shearer out of retirement if the former England skipper continues to find the back of the net.

The 34-year former England skipper's contract expires at the end of the current campaign and he has signalled his intention to hang up his boots when it does.

However, Souness, who took over from Sir Bobby Robson at St James' Park yesterday, will be urging Shearer to think again if he ends the campaign with his usual haul.

"If Alan Shearer scores 20 goals this season, then I'll be plaguing him not to retire," said Souness.

"If he scores 15 goals, then I'll be doing the same, or even a dozen, because strikers like that are priceless to managers and no manager worth his salt wouldn't try to persuade him to keep playing.

"Alan didn't change his mind over his decision to retire from England, but we're all entitled to change our minds."

Souness will take charge of his first game on Thursday evening, the UEFA Cup clash with Israeli side Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin, having told his players what is expected of them both on and off the pitch.

However, he has promised that each of them, including Kieron Dyer, who infuriated the club's fans by refusing to play wide on the right in the opening-day fixture at Middlesbrough, will start with a clean slate.

Souness in conciliatory mood

"I will sit down with Kieron Dyer and tell him that the slate is completely clean," said Souness.

"Who at 23 or 24 years old doesn't make mistakes? Who at 23 or 24 years old doesn't need educating? Who at that age doesn't need an arm putting round them from time to time?

"Kieron has learnt something in the past few weeks and I'm sure he will do things differently now. It's only a problem if you keep making the same mistakes - then you're an idiot."

Souness played down United's brat pack image, but was adamant that he will expect high standards from his players both at work and in their private lives.

"I was young once, and no-one likes a night out more than me," he said.

"I know how good Newcastle is for a night out - I would come up here when I played for Middlesbrough.

Souness: Older players should educate youngers

"Part of the job is to educate the younger players and I feel I'm better equipped to do that at the age of 51 than I was when I was starting at Rangers at 33.

"There's more than one way to skin a cat and I've learnt from my mistakes in that I was over-confrontational and over aggressive in the past.

"If you analyse the life of a young player at this level, everyone tells them they are brilliant and they receive all the adulation, but it's my job from time to time to tell them they are rubbish if the need is there.

"They're playing at such a glorious time in the game's history. There's never been a better time and it's my job to remind them of that, to get that through to them.

"Football's not always been like this, and the real world out there is a very different place. What they fail to understand is that they are enjoying a career which can give them a fantastic lifestyle long after they have finished playing."